CHP
SPRING SPRING 2026 2026
A Letter from the Dean
As we conclude the Spring 2026 semester, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to everyone in the College of Health Professions community. This semester marks the completion of my first full academic year as dean, and I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished together. Throughout these pages, you will see the dedication, innovation, and collaboration that define our College, from celebrating our graduates and expanding experiential learning opportunities to advancing research, strengthening community partnerships, and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
This year has also reinforced our ability to adapt and thrive in ever-changing healthcare and higher education landscapes. Through innovative teaching, impactful scholarship, investments in simulation and technology, and meaningful community engagement, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have continued to make a difference on campus and in our communities. These accomplishments reflect our shared commitment to excellence and to improving the health of the communities we serve.
Thank you for your hard work, resilience, and unwavering commitment throughout the year. It has been an honor to serve alongside such an exceptional community. I hope you recognize and take pride in everything we have achieved together, as we continue building an even stronger future for the College of Health Professions.
BRIAN GOLDSTEIN, PHD
DEAN
COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Together, our achievements reflect excellence and purpose.
CATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the full photo gallery on our Flickr page.
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Pinning Ceremony LSN Awards and Pinning Celebration
Ceremony
Annual Scholarship Day
Feature Articles
RN for Life: A Healthcare Pathways Series
Get to know Cathy Manley-Cullen, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC ’96,
as part of our ongoing series spotlighting the careers, experiences, and insights of Pace University College of
Health Professions Advisory Board members and healthcare leaders.
Read More
Pace University Advances Global Leadership on the SDGS
Pace University continues to champion the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through faculty scholarship, global partnerships, and student leadership. From publishing new research on sustainable development to supporting a record number of Millennium Fellows, Pace is helping shape innovative solutions to environmental, social, and economic challenges worldwide.
Read More
Lead Before You're Ready
New graduate nurse Michelle Novominski, BSN, RN, ‘25 and faculty member Cindy Paradiso, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, share their perspectives on why leadership begins long before you're an expert, and how early involvement can help shape the future of nursing.
Read More
New Deans Elevate Pace University’s Standing in Business and Health
Higher education is in a moment of profound transformation.
Universities must prepare students not only for today’s workforce, but for industries evolving at unprecedented speed.
Pace University has long embraced that challenge, connecting academics with professional preparation, building programs that anticipate the future of work, and investing in leaders who push higher education forward.
That vision advances with the appointments of Ajay Khorana, PhD, dean of the Lubin School of Business, and Brian Goldstein, PhD, dean of the College of Health Professions. Both leaders bring deep expertise and fresh perspectives, strengthening Pace’s ability to translate academic excellence into real-world impact.
Read More
The Social Neuroscience of Eating and Behavior Change
Christen Cooper, EdD, RDN, explores how food choices are shaped by environment, relationships, and social norms. She shares practical strategies for balancing health goals
with real life and highlights the powerful role food can play in building connection, well-being, and community.
Watch the Video
Presentations and Publications
Jean Covino, DHSc, MPA, PA-C and Jennifer L. Hofmann, DMSC, MS, PA-C,
ished in the rmacy Times, Adult ADHD is
Underdiagnosed: Here’s what pharmacists need to know
Catherine Finlayson, PhD, RN, OCN, and PhD student Aimee Smith presented heir research at he Eastern Nursing Research
Society Annual Meeting. Their podium presentation was titled, Creating a Culture Change: The blueprint for change in acute and critical care nursing.
Check Out THE FULL PLATE NEWSLETTER
Nutrition and Dietetics, MS January 2026 Issue June 2026 Issue
Catherine Finlayson PhD, RN, OCN and Sharon Wexler, PhD, RN, FNGNA along with alum
Shiyon Mathew, PhD ‘25 presented
a poster titled, The relationship between the nurse work environment, burnout, CLABSI, and CAUTI at the Eastern Nursing Research Society Annual Meeting.
Cindy Paradiso, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, PNAP and Elizabeth Berro, PhD, RN, CHSE, CNE, welcomed a visiting faculty member from Northern Illinois University to Pace, who was inspired by their co-authored article, The Jury is Out: Effective pathophysiology and pharmacology instruction in NYS baccalaureate nursing education, published in the Journal of the NYS Nurses Association 51(2).
This collegial exchange highlights the broader impact of faculty scholarship, dissemination, and cross‑institutional collaboration in nursing education
Presentations and Publications
Michele Lopez, DHED, RN, MA, CNE, CHES, CDE, recently published mutiple articles in American Nurse titled, From applause to action: Why New York's nursing strike matters for patients, nursing students, and the future of the nursing profession, April 2026 and Teaching under threat: The escalating crisis of incivility and unsafe working conditions in nursing academia, May 2026 Together, these articles bring attention to key issues influencing the future of nursing and healthcare education.
At the Research and Graduate Education Spring Conference, Mentorship in the Minority Professoriate was presented by Linda Carozza, PhD, CCC-SLP, FNAP; Jennifer Rosenstein, MSLIS, MA; and Kiara Medina, Communication Sciences and Disorders student.
Erica L. Gollub, DrPH, MPH and Lauren Pizzella ‘25, co-authored the article High interest in the PrEP (Dapivirine) Ring among U.S. low-
income Latina women: Results from a community clinic, published in The Guilford Press.
Belinda (Beau) Anderson, PhD, MA(Ed), LAc, was featured in a recent MedShadow Foundation webinar, A Practical Guide to Alternative Treatments and in an article Can acupuncture help osteoarthritis pain? She presented Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in Transition: Trends, challenges, and opportunities for integration at the 2026 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health, where she was interviewed by MedShadow founder Suzanne Robotti. View Interview
Congratulations to Cindy Paradiso PhD, RN-BC, CNE on her induction as a professional member of the National Academies of Practice. At the organization’s annual meeting and forum, she presented From Drills to Pills: Incorporating pharmacology education into speech-language pathology training alongside Ellayne Ganzfried, MS, CCC-SLP, FASHA, FNAP and Chris Hanley, PharmD, highlighting innovative approaches to interprofessional education.
Student Spotlight
The path to a career in healthcare is built one experience at a time. These student stories highlight the milestones, achievements, and moments of growth that define the CHP experience and inspire what's possible.
NURSING ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Nursing student Christina Tram played a key leadership role at the 74th Annual Nursing Students' Association of New York State Convention. As Policy and Education Director, Christina authored and presented the resolution, Recommend Raising the Age of Consent to 18 Years Old to Protect Adolescents, which passed unanimously. The resolution will advance to the National Student Nurses' Association Convention in Houston, Texas.
Christina was also re-elected to serve as Policy and Education Director for the 2026–2027 term, where she will continue her advocacy efforts by working to transform the resolution into legislation.
LEADING FUTURE NURSES
Nursing student Allison Shurak was recognized at the 74th Annual Nursing Students' Association of New York State Convention in Long Island, NY. She received the Treasurer for a Difference Award for her outstanding service as treasurer of the Pace Nursing Student Association, while the chapter also earned the Future Leadership Fund to support executive board initiatives.
Additionally, she was elected Communications Director for the Nursing Students' Association of New York State Executive Board for the 2026–2027 term, where she will help strengthen connections among student nursing chapters across New York and support the next generation of nursing leaders.
Christina Tram
Christina Tram Allison Shurak
Awards and Recognitions
UNIVERSITY AWARDS
OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Amaka Auer
Health Informatics, MS
Natasha Cruz Communication Sciences and Disorders, MS
Emily DeLorenzo Physician Assistant Pleasantville, MS
Carly Martone Nutrition and Dietetics, MS
Carla McNulty Nursing, PhD
Brenna McGonigle Occupational Therapy, MS
Sarah Abdul Sabboor Public Health, MPH
Shawn Xiao
Family Nurse Practitioner, MS
PROGRAM AWARDS
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Elizabeth Carrano
Outstanding Academic Achievement and Professional Potential
Kiara Medina
HEALTH INFORMATICS
Scholarly Excellence
Amaka Auer
HEALTH SCIENCE
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Natalia Corcione
Jaelyn Oramas
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Magdalene Golder-Ryan Health Science, BS
Ann Punnoose Nursing, BS
Dominic Zacarolli Health Science, BS
CAREER SERVICES AWARD
Ishika Kantharia Public Health, MPH
Madison Tovar Health Science, BS
HEALTH SCIENCE
Outstanding Academic Achievement and Professional Potential
Katherine Abreu
Abbey Colon
Angela Shllaku
Academic Leadership
Leila Hasan
Evan Mulgrew
Advocacy Award
Vincent Accettura
Nishat Ahmed
Emerging Leader
Kristy Gonzales
Katie Hernandez-Lopez
Outstanding Perseverance
Alex Timario
Talib Wright
Awards and Recognitions
PROGRAM AWARDS
NURSING, UNDERGRADUATE
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Daniella Renha, BS
Alyssa Salamone, ABS
Outstanding Academic Achievement and Professional Potential
Joel Brown, BS
Carlos Tasama, ABS
Future Nurse Leader
Ashlee Fernandez, BS
NURSING, GRADUATE
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Amanda Adams, Adult-Gerontology
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Nicole Beck, Family Nurse Practitioner
Rachel Frankel, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Outstanding Academic Achievement and Professional Potential
Kim Ah-Hyun, Family Nurse Practitioner
David Cardona, Adult-Gerontology
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Nathan Friedman, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
NURSING, DNP
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Dina Bolden
Outstanding Academic Achievement and Professional Potential
Vincent Palmieri
PUBLIC HEALTH
Scholarly Excellence
Sarah Abdul Sabboor
NURSING, PHD
Outstanding Dissertation
Amir Islam, Nursing, PhD
Outstanding Alumna/Alumnus
Shiyon Mathew, Nursing, PhD
NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Opportunitas
Kendra Mayers
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Megan Finn
Outstanding Professional Potential
Sara Kugi
OMEGA DELTA CHAPTER OF SIGMA THETA TAU
The Omega Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing welcomed 63 new members during its May 7 induction ceremony.
The program opened with welcoming remarks from Sharon Stahl Wexler, PhD, RN, FNGNA, FNYAM, professor and department chair, PhD in Nursing, and president of the Omega Delta Chapter. Faculty leaders celebrated the inductees' achievements.
The chapter recognized Amir U. Islam, MSN, FNP-BC, recipient of the 2025 Omega Delta Research Grant Award.